Is baking soda safe for cats to be around?

I always buy the Arm & Hammer baking soda deodorizer stuff that you sprinkle in the litterbox-- I think it's just lightly scented baking soda but I feel like it absorbs odors better than just a scented cat litter.

I also buy Arm & Hammer baking soda that you sprinkle on your carpet to get rid of pet odors.

Do you think instead of buying both (they come in virtually identical boxes) that I can just sprinkle the kind made for the carpets in the litter box?

They seem identical and on the box of the carpet stuff it says it's ok to put on pet bedding. I figure whether it goes on the carpet or their litter box they are stepping on it-- so it should be safe.

What do you think?

I would say that as long as they don't ingest any of it the plain baking soda is fine. Since the other stuff has "fresheners" added to it, that might create a problem.

I just buy the regular baking soda, no added perfumes or chemicals. I sprinkle a little in the bottom of the litter box for odor control and it's never caused any problems with my cats.